Space Marine 2 is everything a 40K fan would want in a game, with intense combat and detailed customization. While an unremarkable story and server issues hold the game back from true greatness, the experience on offer is well worth the $70 price tag with a plethora of content that calls back to the games of the early 2010s with a main story, PvP, and co-op mode to ensure you’ll happily spend hours slaying Xenos.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a game that understands what makes an open world enjoyable. The game is confident in its systems and refuses to undercut them by including features like readily available fast travel and checklists that are commonplace in more mediocre open worlds. Instead, it asks the player to engage in its world on its terms and refuses to compromise for convenience. It is a bold philosophy that may repel some players.
Helldivers 2 is the best game of 2024 so far, only being held back by the fact that the small team at Arrowhead Studios was not expecting so many players to flood the servers at launch.
Skull and Bones is quite possibly the biggest disappointment of 2024 so far. The lack of content at launch reminds me of the first Destiny game, with somewhat fun moment-to-moment gameplay, but a complete lack of anything else to keep the player interested past the first hours at launch
Tekken 8 is a continuation of one of the most beloved fighting game series ever made and one that embraces modern technology to ensure its worldwide player base can enjoy its exhilarating gameplay to the fullest. While the game’s netcode isn’t as rock solid as recent titles like Street Fighter 6 and Guilty Gear Strive, it is a vast improvement to its predecessor and more than good enough most of the time. Tekken’s story, while short, combines its gameplay and narrative in ways its competition has not, making its story a unique experience worth playing in a genre that increasingly places the game mode as an afterthought.
While The Cub is a short game, it’s a great one that delivers an interesting story and engaging gameplay that’s well worth the time and the price. Its ability to keep a light tone while dealing with dark subjects is impressive, but it never breaks the mold set by similar games like Limbo, sticking close to the formula.
While playing Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, I was constantly disappointed. Whether it be the game story, combat, or visuals, it felt like every step forward in a positive direction was followed soon after by two steps back. The game’s positive aspects are still good, and I’m sure diehard fans of the film will enjoy the realistic recreation of Pandora’s wilderness.
At the end of the day, it’s hard not to recommend a free DLC. God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla is an excellent companion piece to go along with the main game. Its highlights are the narrative and gameplay elements that focus on Kratos as a character and how he copes with his new place in the world.